The official onset of fall has brought with it daily fluctuations in temperature. The mornings are cool but the day warms up to summer-like temps by the afternoon. It’s a time when the windows being open invite in crisp fall air, until it gets too hot, then we crank the AC back on. The ebb and flow of Mother Nature’s temperature can make it difficult for us to keep our own body temperatures regular, too.
These changes in temperature can be more arduous on elderly persons, who already are at risk for medical issues related to body temperature. Medications and chronic conditions can also affect their ability to remain in a safe temperature range.
So many physical changes occur as we age, and one’s ability to hold a safe body temperature is no exception. For younger people, body temperatures below 95 and above 104 are considered dangerous. But for elderly persons, their safe range is much more narrow, about two degrees on either end of that spectrum.
As humans, we are thermoregulating organisms. Thermoregulation is the ability to keep our body temperature within certain parameters, even when the surrounding temperature is different. It is our body’s psychological response to changes in temperatures. When it’s hot, we sweat to cool down. We shiver when we are cold to warm up. This is our body’s natural response to keep our body temperature in an appropriate range. We don’t have to think about it, it just happens.
Thermydysregulation occurs when this physiological regulation is impaired. This can occur due to a myriad of changes in a person as they age, often because the thermoreceptors in our bodies begin to function less efficiently.
When we are cold, our thermoreceptors kick in to tell us to shiver and warm up. But elderly people with impaired receptors do not recognize the cold until their temperature is much lower. This can cause hypothermia.
The same thing can happen with hyperthermia, which is when our bodies overheat. Excessive heat can be very damaging, but not recognized by an elderly person’s automatic response system until they are too hot.
Problems with blood circulation also impact thermoregulation responses in the body. Dehydration is another culprit and is a common problem among the elderly. Without adequate water, our bodies have a harder time maintaining an appropriate temperature.
Because elderly persons have a harder time regulating their body temperature, keeping them in a safe range is important no matter what the weather outside is. With the constant changes we experience now in the fall season, we might be more aware of the temperature changes but a senior may not be. Here are some tips to help keep them safe:
The autumn season is a beautiful time of year, despite the temperature fluctuations we all experience. Help keep your loved one safe by paying attention to the weather and remembering that older people respond differently to the fall fluctuations.
Visit Evergreen Senior Living’s website today to learn more about our wellness team and the services we provide to seniors in Illinois and Indiana.
